With his future at St. Sabina Catholic Church in doubt, a tired-sounding Rev. Michael Pfleger stood in front of his parish Sunday and asked for its prayers.

Gone was the bravado and showmanship that fueled his earlier homily, in which the city’s best-known priest dramatically stated his desire to stay at the South Side church. And gone, too, were the television cameras that captured the congregation erupting in cheers after his announcement.

“We keep going through this, and it has been very painful,” he said. “Spiritually, I'm good, but emotionally, I'm very stretched.”

Pfleger told the parish that he had written a letter to Cardinal Francis George asking for permission to remain at St. Sabina, despite a rule that prohibits priests from staying at one church longer than 12 years. Pfleger has received numerous exemptions during his 30-year tenure, but he acknowledged during Sunday Mass that his time could soon be ending.

“I have sent my suggestions and thoughts to the cardinal,” he said during the homily. “I have also said to the cardinal that my desire is to remain at St. Sabina’s. That's what I would like to do.”

A lightning rod in both religious and political circles, Pfleger has been outspoken on myriad issues, including liquor and tobacco sales, gun violence, police leadership and allowing women into the priesthood.

He gained national notoriety during the 2008 presidential campaign when mocked Hillary Clinton and suggested she felt “entitled” the Oval Office. Pfleger has said that he and the cardinal have talked about identifying a successor ever since.

George declined comment on Sunday.

St. Sabina’s parishioners, however, have made it clear they don’t want a pastoral change. Church leaders released a statement last week asking to be involved in any decisions concerning Pfleger’s future and called his potential departure “devastating.”Though Pfleger discouraged them Sunday from speaking to the media about church matters, many said they worried whether St. Sabina would survive without its high-profile pastor.“He should stay because he has done a great job,” said Cynthia O’Brien, who recently joined the church. “He speaks the word of God, and he’s an asset to the community. You couldn’t ask for more.”

Gwendolyn McCray, who has been attending services at St. Sabina for about 20 years, questioned how the struggling Auburn Gresham neighborhood would cope if Pfleger departed. During his three decades in the community, Pfleger has established an employment resource center, a social service center and a home for seniors. He also has confronted issues such as drug dealing and prostitution.

“The entire community has improved because of him,” McCray said. “He has been a fantastic leader, but all we can do now is pray.”

With the decision out of his hands, Pfleger told his parishioners that their time and energy might be better spent worrying about war with Libya or the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

“What's happening at St. Sabina is in God's hands,” he said. “But you know what? There are more important issues.”

Pfleger also assured worshipers that St. Sabina would survive under new leadership.“St. Sabina will not fall apart or the church will not be devastated because of Mike Pfleger,” he said. “God is still God.”

In a post on his Facebook page Saturday, Pfleger thanked people for their support and hinted that prayers might actually keep him with his flock after all.

“Thank you for all the prayers, text, emails, calls of support and asking what can we do, from around the country,” he wrote. “Right now just pray. And to my haters: Don't order the party balloons yet!”

Rev. Michael Pfleger was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 14, 1975. In 1981, at the age of 31, he became the youngest full pastor in the diocese when he was appointed Pastor of Saint Sabina Church. Pfleger is the founder of the Employment Resource Center, the Ark Youth Center,...